Conference on Film Financing and Distribution for New Mexico Filmmakers

Governor Bill Richardson today announced that the New Mexico Film Office will present a two-day conference designed to educate local filmmakers on how to obtain financing and distribution for small films. The conference will take place Friday, June 11 and Saturday, June 12 at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque. It will feature panels and discussions led by experts and seasoned film industry professionals.

The events are free and open to the public, however because space is limited those wishing to attend must register in advance. “The primary focus of our film program is to provide jobs, opportunity, and support for New Mexico filmmakers,” said Governor Richardson.'

“This conference will offer critical information and advice to those trying to find a way to make and distribute their small films. It is one more way we are making the film industry work for New Mexicans.” Friday afternoon programs will run from 2:00 p.m. until 5 p.m. and will include panel discussions focused on “How to Maximize Your New Mexico Film Incentives.”

These will be followed by discussions about the New Mexico film Loan Program, the Film Crew Advancement Program, and the wide variety of services offered through the New Mexico Filmmakers Program.

To see the full announcement, click here.

1,001 New Mexico Film Connections - All Filled Up!

Thanks to all of you for inquiring, but the 1,001 New Mexico Film Connections event registration is now closed.

If you have registered, please print your registration confirmation email, and/or the confirmation email we'll be sending this week with you on the day of the event.

Since we are all full up, only those who have registered will be able to attend. We'd love to have all of you - maybe next year we'll do it at Tingley!

Please note: The Albuquerque Journal North erroneously posted the event on their calendar, stating the was free and open to the public. We'd like to apologize for their error, and hope that we get to meet with you at a future event soon.

Special thanks to Garson Studios and to the La Posada de Santa Fe for helping put together a wonderful event!

Part Three in an Amazing Series on Production Insurance by Sam Levy of Rio Grande Insurance

Insurance options for multiple projects and the entertainment industry

by: Sam Levy, Rio Grande Insurance www.riograndeins.com

In the last two issues of Movie News, we’ve explored the coverage and considerations for single productions. In this installment we’ll take a look at insurance for production companies that make many productions as well as policies for industry related businesses. Read through the following list and descriptions to see how insurance would fit you!

Multiple Projects: DICE/Annual Productions

My favorite acronym in movie insurance is DICE which stands for Documentary, Industrial, Commercial(s) and Educational productions, which are typically made by production companies who need an annual policy because they have multiple productions throughout each year. Though the DICE acronym sounds as if it might be restrictive to the type of productions allowed, the underwriters are increasingly opening up this type of policy to almost all production types. DICE/Annual policies combine the best of both insurance worlds – they cover most of the specialized film-specific “producer’s risk” coverage that was discussed in detail last time with the broader scope of a general business owner’s commercial insurance. As you’ll recall, “producer’s risk” can cover shooting and other miscellaneous equipment, property owned by third parties, wardrobe/props/sets, negative/faulty stock and broad automobile coverage. Stunts and cast coverage can now be “bought back” onto these policies, a very recent addition to the offering. A DICE/Annual policy is rated on the average number of productions throughout a year in combination with factoring in of the budget of the largest average production.

We had discussed short term (less than 30 or 60 days) v. long term single productions, and you’ll recall that it is possible to get very affordable coverage for short term production policies of ten days of principal photography for $500. Typically a DICE/Annual policy is going to start around $1,300+ per year, so for a company that only makes two or three productions of ten or fewer days each, it may be just as easy to purchase a number of short term production policies. A DICE/Annual policy covers you for an entire 365 days of the year and takes into account office and incidental operations, so can be advantageous both financially and logistically. Note that in order to cover productions on a DICE/Annual policy, they must always be declared in advance to your agent.

Multiple Projects: Film Schools

You likely recall the scare tactics from the first article in this series in November warning against the dangers of sub-sold, paper based “co-production” arrangements from film schools. While the laws against co-production are still in place, they focus primarily on small producers that may be unwittingly taking advantage of a system. However, with the right insurance agent and policy, it is possible to get good coverage for film schools. There are policies specifically crafted to insure productions that are sanctioned by a film school at a U.S. university and for productions by students enrolled at the school. There are over 50 types of productions eligible for this coverage, but anything outside of the U.S. & Canada or with stunts must be insured as a sole and separate single production.

Multiple Projects: Production Portfolio

This recently added insurance option bridges the gap between DICE/Annual policy that is most appropriate and affordable for groups of smaller budget productions and full-fledged larger budget single productions. Production portfolio offers all of the coverages available to a larger production and offers the discounted advantage of aggregating schedules and budgets. This can be of particular advantage for a series. Production portfolio can handle groups of single project budgets up to $15 million and durations of up to 18 months.

Entertainment Services: Photographers, Videographers & DJs (and Shell Corps too)

This type of policy is specifically geared to the very small or sole proprietor business that covers private functions and/or public events. This insurance package puts together the most often requested coverage of general liability, auto liability & physical damage with equipment coverage, whether owned, rented or borrowed. Closely related to this type of policy is the “shell corp” policy for incorported individuals in the entertainment industry such as actors, directors, producers, writers, cameraman, singers, musicians, composers, radio/TV broadcasters, athletes and even touring entertainers.

Entertainment Services: Studios, including post-production

A Studio type of policy covers recording studios, editing studios, pre-production studios and post-production studios. This provides protection for entities continuously engaged in the business of providing a studio facility to the entertainment industry, for any of the purposed mentioned and their related uses. This can be tailored to fit the needs of small to large studios and coverage for catastrophe is available, including earthquake, wind and flood. Studio policies can have up to $5 million in equipment coverage and $10 million in liability as long as they are based in the U.S.

Entertainment Services: Rental Houses

Provides insurance for companies that supply the entertainment, sports and leisure industries with equipment and/or support services including installation. Again, this is for entities “continuously engaged” in the business of renting equipment such as cameras, lighting, sound, props, sets, wardrobe, trailers and more. They may provide equipment for special events such as props, sets, furnishings and more. This policy is closely related to the Studio policy and has the same high limits of coverage and catastrophe buy back available.

Entertainment Services: Floaters and Equipment Insurance

A floater covers property at an indeterminate number of locations U.S. and worldwide, generally for all risks. There are several types of floaters including personal and commercial equipment and valuable schedules. While entertainment equipment floaters are most common, and can be bought without any other coverage being required, we also handle standalone contractors equipment floaters, and personal articles. Personal articles can be comprised of valuables and collections including jewelry, fine arts and other miscellaneous items. A unique product, the film print floater covers not only film prints, but also certain expenses incurred to reprint, recopy or repair lost or damaged property from original material. Film print floater “covered causes of losses” include exposed film; damaged tape, interpositives and positives; work prints, cutting copies and fine grain prints; transparencies, cels, art work used to create images, and software used to generate computer images. Cut-outs and unused footage are not covered.

Entertainment Services: Events

Events policies are available for all sizes and durations of public and private one time and recurring events, as well as for vendors and exhibitors. Event insurance can cover cancellation, promoters, theatrical groups, venues and even cancellation. This can include festivals and trade shows as well as long duration events.

Entertainment Services: Commercial Insurance

As we get further down this list, you should begin to see the gap between a “normal” business policy and a “specialized” production policy narrow and begin to disappear. Obviously, production insurance branched out of general business insurance, and we do plenty of insurance policies for all types of businesses in the film industry that don’t do any of the specialized things mentioned above.

The word insurance is derived from the Latin word for security. In the 17^th century, the word “insure” became established to mean “providing against loss and damage.” The bottom line is that insurance exists to protect you and your interests. To “indemnify” means to make you “whole” again and that’s what we insurance agents are here to do. Insurance is not about premiums and risk and your answering questions the “right” way, it’s about being protected and secure that you can go back to business without suffering an insurmountable financial loss.

Contact your insurance agent, trust and confide in them and be up front about what could happen and what you want covered. We are here to help you and to act in your best interest. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Make sure you understand your coverages especially what is not covered or what your obligations are. If you can understand some of the available coverages by reading this article, you’ll be ahead of the game in asking questions of and having information to provide your agent. Especially in trying economic times, being fully and properly protected is essential to your future. That’s what we’re here for.

Send inquiries to sam@riograndeins.com

Sam Levy is the Film Insurance division manager at Rio Grande Insurance, www.RioGrandeIns.com
Providing superior service from Green light 'til Wrap, for all your production insurance needs, including: Single and Annual Production policies, Liability, Producer’s Risk, Rented equipment, Errors & Omissions, Work Comp, Directors & Officers, Hired and non-owned auto; Blanket additional insureds. All premiums count for 25% NM rebate.

14 local offices in NM, CA, AZ & UT.

1231 South St. Francis Dr Ste A, Santa Fe, NM 87505

Toll-Free: 888-447-8216; Phone: 505-984-8216; Fax: 505-984-8238

E-mail: sam@riograndeins.com

Albuquerque Studios is Off The Auction Block

From the Albuquerque Journal, by Dan Mayfield

The auction is off.

Albuquerque Studios' parent company, Pacifica Mesa Studios, and its creditors have worked out a deal and the studios will remain under the current management, a company spokeswoman said Thursday.

Nearly three weeks ago, Pacifica Mesa was served with a foreclosure notice on Albuquerque Studios by one of its creditors, Workers Trust Realty II. The company's loan is for an ownership interest in the studio. It is the smaller of two major loans Pacifica Mesa has taken out to finance the $90 million studios.

The bank, in a legal ad taken out in the Journal, said the company owed nearly $21.5 million to Workers Trust and was going to hold a foreclosure auction next Friday. Now, that's not going to happen.

"All of the parties are working together to resolve their differences. Albuquerque Studios continues to operate with current management," said Pacifica spokeswoman Sarah Robarts.
No details on the new arrangement were disclosed.

The bank had said the foreclosure sale was due to "default in the payment of debt and performance." The holder of the loan appoints the managers of Albuquerque Studios.
Pacifica chairman Hal Katersky said Wednesday the loan is one of two the company has on Albuquerque Studios and said he was unaware of any payments due to the bank before the announcement. Representatives of the bank have not returned calls by the Journal.

Katersky said that Pacifica was working with Amalgamated Bank, which holds the larger loan, on restructuring the entire debt. He wouldn't say how much that loan is for.

To read the full article, click here!

Casting Call for May 13th Shoot!

CALLING ALL ACTORS – ALL AGES, HERITAGES, TYPES & BACKGROUNDS:

Contact MuirStudio@q.com and/or 575-521-6261 immediately to register to audition for the following medical training film to be shot in one day, Thursday, May 13, here in Las Cruces.
$500 flat fee pay for each of six roles for the day's shoot.
Exact time and place of audition to be announced asap.

CASTING BREAKDOWN:

Shooting two videos, one in the morning and one in the afternoon on Thursday, May 13th.
All roles have lines, but mostly responses and casual conversation.
Most of the heavy dialogue is carried by the professional EMT’s (Emergency Medical Technicians) who are "for real" and do this every day.

CAST REQUIRED:

FIRST SHOOT: ”COMPLEX PATIENT ENCOUNTER”

1 Airport Staff: Male or female, in uniform, like a flight attendant)

1 Female Nurse: Dressed as an airline passenger, she volunteers to help a passenger in distress

1 Principal Patient: Large/heavy, mature/older-looking male (with a history of COPD –Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease– exhibiting difficultly breathing). Some spoken lines in response to questions from medical technicians. Not a difficult role, but very important and the actor must stay in character throughout.

SECOND SHOOT: “SYNCOPAL INCIDENT”

1 Principal Patient: Mature/older-looking female (will have a fake IV and a 12-lead ECG attached)

1 Male Family Member: Will give answers to EMT interview questions (script says "her son")

1 Police Officer: In uniform as the First Responder

Malice in Wonderland! Public Sneak Preview!

"Malice in Wonderland-The Dolls Movie"

Be the first to see this groundbreaking, hilarious film!
WHEN: May 7th
TIME: 6:30 PM (Doors open at 6:00)
WHERE: Albuquerque Guild Theater

TWO OPTIONS:
1. Buy a presale DVD of the movie on the website, (anticipated June Release) AND get TWO tickets to the sneak preview! ($19.99 + $2.50 S/H) http://www.maliceinwonderlandmovie.com/
2. Buy $5.00 ticket at the door. $5 tickets are on a space availabe basis - arrive early!

Reserve your tickets and DVD online NOW: www.maliceinwonderlandmovie.com

High Plains Film Festival! Click the image to learn more and print out the flyer!

Investment council member questions NM film loans

A newly appointed member of the State Investment Council has questioned whether New Mexico should use an endowment fund to make interest-free loans to films.

Former state Sen. Leonard Lee Rawson, a Las Cruces Republican, voiced his doubts Tuesday as the council agreed to temporarily extend a contract with a Hollywood lawyer to advise the state on film investments.

The contract with Peter Dekom will be extended through May while the council looks to hire a permanent film adviser through a competitive bidding process.

New Mexico can lend up to $15 million to a film project produced in the state, and Dekom recommends whether the council should approve the investments.

The council last month extended Dekom's contract through April and he was paid a monthly rate of nearly $15,000 -- roughly half of what his previous $350,000-a-year contract provided.

Rawson said he wanted a report analyzing whether the film loans have been a successful investment for the state. He and another council member expressed doubts about the program.

"I don't know that we have a mandate to stay in film," said Rawson, who was named to the council last month by the Legislature.

Peter Frank, a board member and retired corporate executive from Santa Fe, said, "We've given up a lot of return on our assets."

Katherine Miller, a board member and secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration, defended the film program, pointing out it was an economically targeted investment with a goal of fostering a film industry in New Mexico.

To read the full article, click here!

Learn About the NM Film Industry

Interested in movies in New Mexico?

Wonder about job opportunities in the industry?

Two representatives from the New Mexico State Film Office will give an informal talk and answer questions. Trish Lopez, New Mexico Filmmakers Program Director, and Tobi Ives, Workforce Development Manager, will give an overview of the film industry in New Mexico, discuss the role of the state film office and give basic descriptions of crew jobs, as well as review the resources and programs available through the office.

Date:	Saturday, May 22, 2010
Time:	11:30am - 1:30pm
Location:	Rio Rancho, Loma Colorado Main Library
Street:	755 Loma Colorado Drive NE
City/Town:	Rio Rancho, NM

This event is free and open to the public. For more information call (505) 891-5013 ext. 3033